Yuletide Often Proves to Be a Nightmare for Individuals Living with Sound Sensitivity.
A 23-year-old hopes for seeing her family over the holidays, but notes a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by using her hearing protection - particularly at the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, this time of year can be a notably tough season as the noises of people eating, slurping and nose-blowing make her feel intense distress.
"I get this wave of instant dread, my every muscle will just freeze and it feels like I'm in a threatening situation, and I need to manage these noises."
The individual has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that makes the holiday period "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is an intense sensitivity to specific noises, notably sounds made by other people.
It's surprisingly common in the UK. Experts discovered nearly 20% people are affected by it.
Frequently it's noises connected to eating or drinking that lead to discomfort, along with things like chewing, heavy breathing, and pen clicking.
A Source of Dread
The sufferer notes: "There are so many various auditory triggers at the holidays and that can be daunting and make you want to avoid it.
"My family are understanding, but I'm very aware that I don't want to upset others. It's like a constant struggle of managing my symptoms to guarantee the event goes smoothly."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy season can quickly turn into a stressful ordeal for affected individuals.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone slurping a Buck's fizz, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a strong emotional response that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
She, a young adult, who has dealt with sound sensitivity for over a decade, explains currently her plan is to use headphones to get through dinner. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a different room to avoid triggering sounds.
She says her misophonia is more pronounced around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "hard".
"There's an expectation to be around family, and I desire to, but it's exhausting on all levels.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel shameful, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will activate.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey unless you've experienced it."
Several Strategies to Manage
For those affected then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, according to specialists.
- Picture an Alternative: Mental imagery is essential. Try to associate the particular sound affecting you with an unrelated image. So for example, try to imagine someone's slurping is just a gentle stream. By doing this is to help your brain learn that the sound triggering you isn't harmful.
- Use Humor: Introduce playfulness and turn the annoying sound into a competition with the person. As an example, if someone is eating noisily attempt copying the noise. Through participation, rather than feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an engaged person. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you slightly more tolerant.
- Develop a Narrative: A further strategy is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, perhaps they're not at their best or maybe they're upset. This approach is altering the perception of the sound. While the noise remains identical, your interpretation of it moves from being irritating, to feeling a bit more accepting about it.
